How to spot online puppy scams from a mile away

So you’ve decided to get a puppy and are worried about falling victim to puppy scams.

With online fraud rampant these days, we just have a few things you might want to look at before buying a puppy online.

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These warnings are suggestions, not exhaustive, for spotting online puppy scams; buyers should consider additional factors.

1. Extra-cheap prices

Ever heard the saying, If it’s too good to be true, It probably is? Keep that in mind when planning for a new member of your family.

Breeding dogs responsibly is quite costly. The cost of puppies typically mirrors the care invested in their production.

If you stumble upon a remarkably low-priced puppy for sale, proceed with caution.

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Consulting friends and fellow dog owners can help you gauge the usual price range for puppies of your preferred breed.

Be mindful of advertisements offering significantly lower prices or sellers attempting to negotiate. These are often indications of fraudulent schemes.

2. No voice calls or meet-up plans

When it comes to potential puppy sellers, it’s important to be cautious if they solely communicate through text.

Legitimate breeders are usually open to phone conversations, video calls, or even meeting face-to-face.

Scammers, who might mostly claim to be located in other countries, use communication lines that hide their identities, such as email.

They also tend to pressure a buyer with a puppy’s broken origin story.

If you feel anxious about the sale, request a video call before finalising anything.

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3. You can’t pick up in person

Good breeders put the welfare of their puppies before profits.

They often want to meet potential buyers in person or even go to their homes to make sure that everything is right.

Responsible breeders mostly sell puppies only to people who can pick them up in person.

It is important to always meet the puppy to determine whether it would fit in with your household.

It is more than likely a scam if the seller insists on delivering the puppy without allowing for in-person pickup.

Do you know any other puppy scam red flags? Let us know in the comments down below.

4. Your puppy’s photos are all over the internet

Scammers are crafty when it comes to selling non-existent puppies.

Fortunately, some conmen are too lazy to choose pictures past the first page of Google.

A clear sign of a puppy scam is if you spot the same pictures popping up all over the internet.

You can check this with any photo with a reverse image search on Google. Stay vigilant and keep those scammer tricks at bay!

5. Seller offering multiple breeds

Reputable breeders focus on a single breed, aiming for quality over quantity.

A seller that offers multiple breeds for sale is a huge red flag.

What scammers normally do is post different kinds of ads with a variety of breeds.

An easy trick is to search their email address for multiple ads.

Stay sharp and find your genuine, tail-wagging companion!

Do you have a pet video or picture you’d like to share with The South African?

If so, email info@thesouthafrican.com or WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1

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This article was compiled with the help of Artificial Intelligence